Chapter 60. You Reap What You Sow
"Tsk..."
Joshua clicked his tongue once and looked up with a displeased expression at the building prominently marked with the insignia of 'Blind Eyes'.
"Young master, even though it's a message from the family head, there's no need for you to go personally. You could send one of the servants..."
"Then why don't you go?"
".... Ahem."
When a confidant trailing behind him spoke up, Joshua lazily opened his eyes and responded.
The confidant, displaying signs of discomfort, cleared his throat awkwardly before letting out a self-conscious laugh.
"Stupid bastard."
Although he hurled an insult, Joshua was resigned to such reactions. After all, the very reason he came here was to see 'Yulian Cryphart Frason'.
"Never mind, I'm going alone. You all wait here."
With a deeply furrowed brow, Joshua entered the building of 'Blind Eyes'. His followers, left behind, squirmed with unease.
Joshua had his reasons for leaving his entourage behind.
'... That guy holds my weakness.'
In the process of attacking Yulian, he had relied on a dubious organization called 'Dawn Society', and Yulian knew it.
Furthermore, wasn't Yulian part of 'Blind Eyes', a prestigious institution directly affiliated with the royal family?
While many might look down on his mixed blood, none dared to underestimate his standing.
If Yulian were to report him?
'It won't end well.'
Thus, Joshua complied with Yulian's request, hoping that his disgrace would remain submerged.
'No one must know.'
Absolutely no one.
"What brings you here today?"
Upon entering the building, a woman who seemed to be a receptionist smiled warmly and asked.
"I'm here to see Yulian. Lead the way."
"Ah, just a moment."
At his words, the receptionist started scanning the chalkboard behind her.
"Sir Yulian is currently unavailable due to personal matters."
"Where did he go?"
"As for that...."
Joshua's forehead twitched upon hearing that Yulian was not present.
To be told that the person he disliked most was absent, even after going through all the trouble to meet him here?
And they didn't even know where he was.
"Why don't you know?"
"Pardon? Well, it's just..."
"Isn't it your job to know?"
As Joshua glared at her with wide eyes, the receptionist's face rapidly drained of color.
"That's enough, shall we?"
A voice suddenly interjected, seemingly observing the situation.
Joshua turned his gaze toward where the voice had come from.
"You know full well that Sir Yulian is unpredictable, don't you?"
Speaking calmly as she approached, Ordwin, the commander of 'Blind Eyes', was a petite woman, but her presence exuded confidence.
"It's been a while, commander Ordwin. Or perhaps calling someone from a fallen noble family 'Commander' is too much, hmm?"
Joshua's mocking tone suggested he was greeting her, but Ordwin seemed unfazed, as if this was a routine occurrence.
"Call me whatever you like; it's of no consequence to me. That said, seeing you come all the way here to meet Sir Yulian suggests something has happened, hasn't it?"
Ordwin lightly smiled as she spoke, prompting Joshua to click his tongue inwardly.
Though there was no way Ordwin could know the details of his relationship with Yulian, just the mere speculation was grating to Joshua.
"You presume too much—nothing of the sort."
"Oh my, so you're here with no reason to see Sir Yulian, then?"
Ordwin's smile widened slightly.
"What wonderful brotherly affection."
Crack.
Her words made Joshua involuntarily clench his fist, his neck veins bulging more prominently than usual.
'Damn woman.'
There was no way she didn't know about the relationship between Yulian and the Cryphart family. Her comments could only be an attempt to get under his skin.
A destitute noble trying to demean the prestigious Cryphart family.
"How dare someone like you..."
"It's been a while, Joshua."
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed in his ears. Recognizing it as Yulian's was not difficult.
Joshua slowly turned his head. It was a familiar face, but one wearier than usual.
"What is your business here?"
"Elder brother, I came to talk for a moment."
"You wish to talk?"
"Yes, if you could spare some time, please?"
Seeing Yulian's face, Joshua asked politely. In the dynamic between him and Yulian, it was Yulian who held the leash.
Moreover, Yulian did not seem to be in a good mood today. Offending him now could lead to unpredictable consequences with the secret he held.
"...... This is unexpected. To see your stubbornness softened."
Observing Joshua's demeanor, Ordwin muttered to herself softly.
Since they were close enough, Joshua caught the mumble and bit his lip slightly, his neck bulging more prominently than usual.
"For now, please come in. It doesn't seem like a conversation to be had outside."
***
What brings him here?
That was my immediate thought upon seeing Joshua waiting for me.
I knew that Joshua loathed me. If he had fulfilled the request I made during the family meeting, he wouldn't be visiting me now.
I hope it isn't bothersome.
Especially since I already had many things to ponder over with the matter of the 'Black Knight'.
"Father... I mean, the family head, wishes to have a serious discussion with you, elder brother Yulian."
Ah, it seems it is bothersome.
"The family head, huh?"
"Yes."
"Does he really need to?"
I verbalized my thoughts.
I meant it literally: questioning the necessity of meeting him.
Until now, the Cryphart family had treated 'Yulian' as an outcast. This treatment would include the family head, 'Oben Cryphart,' as well.
"I'm not quite sure of the reason."
Of course, one possible scenario is that Joshua had failed to carry out my orders accurately.
I subtly turned my head and glanced nonchalantly at Joshua.
With an unintended audible sigh, a 'Color of Negativity' darkened over Joshua's head.
While much of his dismissiveness towards me had lessened after previous incidents, he seemed exceptionally formal today.
"Was the request I made too challenging?"
"N-no! I supported you as the successor at the family meeting, just as you asked!"
Joshua's voice grew louder, almost as if in protest.
The favor I had asked of him was to support me during the family meeting and draw attention to make me a potential successor.
Because the Cryphart family officially recognized successor candidates.
Once my name was raised, it would become difficult for the Cryphart family to make a move against me lightly.
"I suspect... it's not for a negative reason that the head wishes to see you."
There was an underlying frustration in Joshua's muttering voice.
"What would you like to do?"
"Hmm...."
Deliberately, I trailed off, organizing my thoughts.
'Now is the time to focus on the Heiden Reich affair and the Dawn Society.'
I have no time to waste.
"Understood."
"Then at your convenience, please contact the main house. The family head will..."
"No, I will not be going to the main house."
Joshua appeared visibly taken aback by my words.
"What? Elder brother Yulian... didn't you just say you understood?"
"I did. However, I am busy with more pressing matters."
As the conversation progressed, Joshua's face hardened. It seemed he could roughly predict what I was going to say next.
"If the family head would come personally, I might be able to make time amidst my busy schedule."
I spoke with a smile, and Joshua's gaze began to dart around, unable to settle.
As a mere family offshoot, I was 'summoning' the family head.
Even he isn't a fool. Surely he realizes this is a 'firm refusal.'
'The head wants to meet me.'
I had a vague idea about the reason.
They likely wanted to capitalize on the notoriety 'Yulian' had garnered amidst the peculiar atmosphere in the royal court.
It didn't matter if it was infamy or not.
'Thanks to the mention Joshua made at the family meeting, things likely wouldn't seem strange if the focus shifted.'
However, ever since I talked with Herand, I couldn't help but feel contempt for the Cryphart family.
It's likely due to the original 'Yulian' and the person he had been.
"... Rather than that, wouldn't it be better for you to go personally, elder brother?"
*Screeech.*
Somehow, I heard a grinding sound, like teeth gritting. Even without looking, I knew it was coming from Joshua.
"If you summon the family head personally like that... it will likely be looked upon unfavorably both inside and outside the family, won't it?"
"So Joshua is someone who values the family's reputation. That's why you secretly came to meet me at night."
Upon hearing my sarcastic remark, Joshua's pupils dilated slightly before he eventually averted his gaze.
Not long after, Joshua began to gnaw on his lips.
"I will... relay your words to the family head precisely."
***
Once the office fell silent, I got up and immediately moved in front of the mirror.
Then, I started to shape 'Sombra' in the palm of my hand. What materialized was a mask.
The design wasn't exactly the same as the one I used in 'Twilight Flames', but the mood was similar due to Sombra's pitch-black color.
".... The appearance doesn't matter much, as long as it's a black mask."
The habit of resorting to formal speech had vanished without a trace.
It seemed that the character of the 'Black Knight' took precedence over 'Formal Speech' when I wore the mask.
***
Upon exiting the building, Joshua's neck was pulsing with prominent veins.
As he emerged, his aides, who had been waiting impatiently for his return, rushed to him yet hesitated to speak due to his harsh demeanor.
'Damn it... Damn it!'
Currently, there was a strange undercurrent within the Cryphart family.
Talks emerged about accepting Yulian, who had never been acknowledged by the family, and even removing the derogatory title 'Frason'.
Of course, it ended as mere proposals. The notoriety he accrued was far too immense to accept lightly.
'The problem is that these discussions are starting to surface.'
Having been educated on the importance of lineage from a young age, Joshua found it infuriating that a half-blood, a collateral, was being discussed so prominently.
Moreover, the catalyst for this shift.
'It was my doing....'
Who would have thought that fervently backing him at the family meeting to spur disdain would boomerang like this?
And who would have expected Elder brother Herand to harbor sympathy for Yulian?
As Yulian's status rose, his own standing in the family inevitably dwindled.
After all, it was Yulian who held the reins.
'Only one recourse remains.'
Joshua clenched his fist.
'Father, the head, must meet Yulian somehow.'
The reason why the head wishes to summon Yulian.
It is likely due to the frequent mentions about him that have arisen during the 'family meeting.'
There's no other explanation.
'Father wouldn't harbor sympathy for Yulian like Elder brother Herand, never.'
Indeed, once the family head and Yulian meet, this unsettling current within the family will naturally dissipate.
Facing that overbearing scoundrel would surely result in such an outcome.
'.... There's no way, no way my actions have allowed his momentum to build once more, is there?'
Stricken briefly by a passing unease, Joshua shook his head in denial.
Surely, that can't be.
Clacky's Corner:
So it was Yulian who asked Joshua to bring up the family headship. It seems I have misunderstood.